Trawl net codend release and lock



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1960 INVENTOR. FleA/YK J Auk-H BY M! I gA r/ olemfm" E AND LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 17, 1962 F. J. LUKETATRAWL NET CODEND RELEAS Filed May 31, 1960 July 17, 1962 F. J. LUKETATRAWL NET CODEND RELEASE AND LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 51, 1960INVENTOR. FRANK r]. zm ir/i A r rams 5y! tartar Patented July 17, 19623,944,206 TRAWL NET QGDEND RELEASE AND LGCK Frank J. Luketa, 5567Greenwood, Seattle, Wash. Filed May 31, 196i), Ser. No. 32,960 14Claims. (Cl. 43-9} The codend of a trawl net is held closed duringtrawling by a rope purse line, knotted in a special manner. When thefilled cod'end is hauled aboard the trawler the purse line must bereleased. Even with trawl nets of a size which presently is normalaboard United States trawlers this is not an easy job, and if UnitedStates trawlers are to be or" increased size, comparable with presentlyoperating foreign trawlers of much greater power, the nets will belarger and the release of the purse line will be an even more difficultjob.

The present invention provides a codend purse line and lock for the samewhich will hold securely under all operating conditions, yet which canbe released in a comparatively simple manner. In particular it providesa purse line having a terminal member attached to its one end, butwith atransverse passage through which its other end runs, together with abolt carried by the terminal member and securely engageable with thepurse line within the passage when such line is drawn tight, and inaddition a retaining means to hold the bolt securely in lockingposition, yet readily manipulatable in a special manner to enabledisengagement of the bolt from the purse line.

The special manner of manipulation just referred to preferably includesan arrangement whereby the retaining means, for example a pinreciprocative in the bolt, is movable in the sense for its own reelasewhich is opposite the sense of movement of the bolt for disengagement ofthe purse line. In addition, and preferably, a rotative type of movementis required to enable release of the retaining means, whereby threerather opposed types of movement are required for unlocking, making itimpossible to effect release of the purse line accidentally.

More generally, the present invention provides a novel form of purseline and of codend which it closes, a form which is strong, compact andrugged under all probable conditions of use, yet not excessivelyexpensive, particularly considering its long useful life. It also isadapted for incorporation in larger nets, for which present purse lineswould be unsuitable.

In the accompanying drawings this invention is disclosed in arepresentative form, as presently preferred b me.

FIGURE l is a rear elevational view of the codend and its purse line,drawn tight and locked; the locking mechanism is shown in section.

FIGURE 2 is an axial sectional view along the bolt, in a plane at rightangles to the plane of section in FIG- URE 1, showing parts in thelocked position.

FIGURE 3 is a section through the locking mechanism, similar to FIGURE1, showing the initial step in releasing the lock.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, showing anintermediate step in releasing the lock.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the positionof parts at release of the lock.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view, partly in section, showing parts inpositions generally corresponding to FIG- URE 5 FIGURE 7 is areduced-scale isometric view of the pursed and locked codend.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the filled and pursed after end of the codend at 9FIGURE 1 shows in somewhat greater detail the netting terminating inloops 9G, several loops engaging a sinuous and generally radial closure91 encircling the open end, and the individual eyes 92 through which thepurse line extends to contractthe open end or to allow its release.least that portion of it which draws the eyes 92 closely together, ispreferably in the form of a chain 3. To insure against escape of fishbetween the elements of the closure 91, or through the opening at thecenter of the chain, a sheet of rubber or the like, indicated at 8, issupported within the codend, in position. to close all gaps at theclosed, pursed end thereof.

A terminal member 2 is secured to one end of the chain 3, at 28. Fromthat point of anchorage the chain extends through the successive eyes 92and finally extends through a passage 20 in the member 2 which isoriented transversely of the initial extent of the chain from theanchorage at 28. At this point a slide 30 is incorporated in the chain,guided within the passage 20, and shouldered at 31. The end of the chainopposite the anchorage 28 is anchored, at 32, to the slide 30. Aflexible buoyant polyethylene rope 33 or similar tough element issecured to the slide 39, and extends any suitable distance, constitutingpart of the purse line.

A locking bolt 1 is'guided in a passage 21 in the terminal member 2,which passage 21 is generally transverse to and intersects the passage20, and may extend towards the anchorage at 28. The end' of the bolt canengage the shoulder 31 of the slide, when the slide is in positioncorresponding to greatest constriction of the net opening (as in FIGURE1), and when so engaged holds the purse line chain 3 tight, and preventrelaxation thereof. An extension 19 of the bolt, preferably of flexiblenylon extends to any desired length. i

It is clear that while such engagement will hold the chain tight, theengagement alone might easily be broken; the extension 19 conceivablymight snag and pull on the bolt, so that the bolt 1 might becomewithdrawn from the shoulder 31, and so release the pursed codend,allowing all fish to escape. To avoid this it is highly desirable toprovide latching means for the bolt. Since the bolt reciprocates withinthe passage 21, to the extent permitted by the set key 22 and slot 10,the bolt and the terminal element 2 may be provided with small holes 11and 23 that come into registry when the bolt 1 is in looking position.Balls 12 span the contacting surfaces of bolt 1 and terminal element 2,lying partly within the holes 11 and partly within the holes 23, and ifretained thus as in FIGURE 2 will prevent movement of the bolt 1 fromlocking position, or if withdrawn wholly within one such set of holes,as the holes 11 in FIGURE 4, will permit such unlocking movement.

The retaining means or latch element cooperating with the balls 12, toretain them in the latching position of FIGURE 2, may be such as aflexible stainless steel cable 4 herein termed a pin, with the innerhead 40, reciprocably guided for movement lengthwise of the bolt 1. Thehead 40 has a circumferential groove 41 which when in registry with theballs '12 will permit their withdrawal wholly within the holes 11 of thebolt, as in FIGURE 4. So withdrawn the bolt may move lengthwise of itspassage 21. On the other'hand, if the full thickness of the head 4% liesopposite the balls 12, as in FIGURE 2, the bolt is' prevented frommoving lengthwise of its passage 21.

Reference has been made above to reciprocable movement of the latchelement or retaining pin 4 Without speci fying the sense of its movementrelative to the bolt 1 wherein it is guided. Its reciprocation in eithersense from the retaining position .to the releasing position will elfectrelease, but it is preferred that its movement for release be in thesense opposite the sense of Withdrawing or unlocking movement of thebolt 1. Since unlocking movement of the bolt is in the outward senseindicated in FIGURE 5 by the arrow A1, releasing movement of the Thepurse line, at

' 3 pin 4 is in the inward sense indicated by the arrow A2. Thisinsuresthat a force unintentionally applied to bolt 1 or to pin 4 in thereleasing sense will'not move the other also in the releasing sense, butintentionally opposed movements must be imposed substantiallysimultaneously on each thereof to effect unlocking.

It will be noted that pin 4 has an outer head 42 formed with an axiallyprojecting lug 43 that can be received in an axially directed notch 14of the bolt 1, or in the flexible extension 19 of the latter. A spring44 urges the pin 4 towards its projected retaining position. Theouterhead 42 may rotate, with the pin 4, to displace the lug 43 from registrywith the notch 14. The inner head 40 of the pin 4 is made non-rotativein relation to bolt 1 by the key 45. The flexible stainless steel cablereferred to as pin 4 has the outer head 42 setscrewed to it with the lug43 and the notch 14 considerably out of alignment, hence the head 42must be twisted against orwith the preformed springlike lay of the cablepin 4 to permit alignment. Except as they are in registry the pin 4 maynot move in the releasing sense of arrow A2. Accordingly, thisrelationship requires a rotative movement of head 42 at initiation ofrelease, a subsequent inward movement thereof as arrow A2 indicates, andfinally an outward movement of bolt 1 as 'arrow A1 indicates, to effectrelease of the purse line lock. It is certain that such a sequence ofdifferent movements could not occur accidentally. Upon release of thelock, the/purse line runs through the passage 20 and the rings 92, andfull opening of the codend occurs immediately. 7

The circular rubber sheet 8 closes the gaps at the pursed codend. It isconveniently mounted upon the terminal member 2, as by bolts 81penetrating the member 2, the sheet 8, and a clamping disk 82 (seeFIGURES 1, 2 and 4) at the surface of the sheet 8 opposite the terminalmember 2 Four bolts 81 orient it to close the central portion of thepursed opening. When the c'odend is fully open the sheet 8 constitutesno appreciable obstruction to outflow of the catch.

The flexible nylon extension 19 of the bolt may be of any desired length(see FIGURE 7). It can trail. the codend over the bottom with nolikelihood it will catch, and the buoyant flexible polyethyleneextension 33 of the purse line also trails.

I claim as my invention:

1: In combination with a codend encircling purse line or the like, to bedrawn tight or alternatively to be relaxed,

aosaaoe at able with the bolt and a complemental latching device carriedby the terminal element, and engageable by said retaining member tomaintain the bolt in its locking position, said complemental latchingelements being located relatively to one another, in the direction ofthe bolts movement, and with respect to the sense of movement of thebolt from its locking position, to be disengageable by relative movementof the retaining member in the sense opposite to the sense of movementof the bolt from its locking position; a t

5. The combination of a purse line, terminal member, slide, and bolt asset forth in claim 1, and complemental latching elements including aretaining member guided within the terminal for movement into and fromretaining position, and a complemental latching device carried by theelement other than the one which guides the retaining member, andengageable by the latter to maintain the bolt in locking position, saidcomplemental latching elements being located relatively to one another,and with respect to the sense of movement of the bolt from its lockingposition, to be disengageable by their relative movement in the senseopposite to the sense of movement of the bolt from its locking position.i 6. The combination of a purse line, terminal member, slide, and boltas set forth in claim 1, wherein the bolt is movable inwardly of theterminal member and towards the slide for locking, the bolt and theterminal member having transverse holes movable into registry bymovement of the bolt intoits locking position, and balls rea terminalmember attached to a first end of said purse lineand formed with apassage disposed transversely to the direction of pull of such firstend, through which the second end of the purse line extends when thepurse line is not relaxed, a shouldered slide incorporated in the purseline in position to extend within said passage when the purse line isdrawn tight, and a bolt guided in the terminal member for movementtowards and from the slide, and by its movement in a locking sensetowards the slide engaging the shoulder of the latter to lock the purseline in its tight condition,

' 2. The combination of a purse line, terminal member, slide, and boltas set forth inclaim 1, a latch element guided within the terminalmember, and interengageable between the bolt and the terminal member tosecure the bolt in its locking position, and retaining means carried byand movable relative to the bolt between two limit positions andoperatively engaged with said latch element in one of its limitpositions to prevent movement of the latter from its bolt-securingposition.

' 3. The combination of claim 2, whereinthe bolt is axially bored, andthe latch element is slidably received in the bolts bore, for movementin the axial direction into and from movement-preventing positionrelative to the bolt and the retaining means;

' elements including 'a retaining member guided in and movceivable insaid holes and projecting partially into each of the holes in the boltand those in the terminal member for retaining the bolt in its lockingposition, a pin reciprocable lengthwise of the bolt, and grooved toregister with said holes and balls for movement of the latter fromretaining position and wholly into the holes of one such element bylengthwise movement of the pin into registering position, and converselyfor movement of the balls into retaining position and for retaining thesame therein, by lengthwise movement of the pin from registeringposition.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the pin is guided forreciprocation within the bolt, and the balls when in registry with thegroove of the pin are withdrawn wholly within the bolt, and wherein thepin is arranged for movement lengthwise of the bolt from retainingposition in the sense opposite to the sense of unlocking movement of thebolt.

8. The combination of claim 7, including spring means urging the pin inthe retaining sense, and means interengageable between the pin and thebolt to prevent movement of the pin in the releasing sense, butcooperating by their relative movement into a given position to enablesuch releasing movement of the pin..

9. In combination of claim 8, wherein the pin is formed with a headhaving an axially directed lug, and the bolt is formed with an axiallyfacing notch to receive said lug,

/ the pin being rotatable relative to the bolt to move the lug and notchfrom and into registry, said lug and notch constituting the means toprevent movement of the pin in the releasing sense.

10. A trawl net including a codend having a plurality of eyesdistributed about its open rear end, a purse line extending through theseveral eyes, a terminal member secured to one end of said purse line,and formed with a passage through which the opposite end of the purseline runs, and locking means carried by said terminal member andengageable with the purse line in its run through said passage, tosecure the purse line when tight, and a flexible sheet secured to andoriented by said terminal member, of a shape and in a position to closethe hole within the pursed end of the net.

11. In combination with a codend encircling purse line or the like, tobe drawn tight or alternatively to be relaxed, a terminal memberattached to a first end of said purse line and formed with a passagedisposed transaoegaoe versely of the direction of pull of such firstend, through which the second end of the purse line extends when thepurse line is drawn tight, a shouldered slide incorporated in the purseline in position to extend within said passage when the purse line isdrawn tight, a bolt guided in the terminal member for movement towardsthe slide to engage the shoulder of the latter to lock the slide, oraway from the slide to release it, the bolt having an axial bore closedat its end nearer the shoulder-engaging end, a latch element guided insaid bore for movement between a released position bottomed at theclosed end thereof and a latching position more distant from the boresclosed end, whereby the latch element is moved to its released positionby movement in the sense opposite to movement of said bolt for release.

12. The combination of claim 11, including complemental means on thelatch element and the bolt formed interengageable to register when thelatch element is in its released position, but by relative rotationalmovement to retain the latch element in its latching position, andspring means urging the latch element into its released position whensaid complemental means are in registry.

13. A trawl net including a codend of mesh, a plurality of eyesdistributed about the rear-end opening of the radially directed, andlocking means carried by said terminal member and engageable with thepurse line in its run through said passage, to secure the purse linewhen tight.

14. A trawl net as in claim 13, and a flexible sheet secured to saidterminal element, within the rear end of the codend, of a size to closeany escape gap inside the rearmost meshes fo the codend.

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LewisNov. 25, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol.2, No. 1, published June 1959, page 3.

